Vice Admiral Graves was directed, in pursuance of the Kings pleasure signified by Lord Dartmouth on the 29th ult. to seize all Ships & Vessels belonging to, or owned by, the Inhabitants of New Hampshire, Massachusets Bay Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania, the three lower Counties on Delawar Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, except only in Cases where it shall clearly appear from their Papers or other Evidence that they are bound to, or returning from some Port or Place in Great Britain, Ireland or His Majesty's Islands in the West Indies: But this exception is not to extend to such as have Arms or Ammunition on board which are to be seized in all cases whatever unless such Arms & Ammunition have been Shipp'd with Licence either from His Majesty in Council the Master General &c. of the Ordnance, or under the usual Clearances from the Commissioners of His Majesty's Customs. ー Ships or Vessels so seized to be carried into some British Port not within the 12 associat'd Colonies & there detained til further Order or proceeded against according to Law, as the nature of the Case shall require ー Men found on board to be applied towards Completing the Complements of the Ships of his Squadron, if wanted, otherwise borne as supernumeraries until further Order.
N.B. The Commanders in Chief of the King's Ships at the Leeward Islands, Jamaica & in the Mediterranean as well as the Commanders of all those station'd on the Coasts of Great Britain and Ireland and of such as were going to North America had similar Orders; And the three Commanders in Chief, beforemention'd were directed in Case it should be found unsafe to continue on board the Ships so seized, the Men who belong to them, to order the respective Captains of the Kings Ships under their command to complete their Complements if deficient, with such as may be prevailed upon to enter, and to bear the Remainder, or if their Complement happens to be complete, the whole or as many of them as shall be judged proper, as supernumeraries till further Order.
